Military-Friendly Colleges in California

Aug 24, 2017

There are many universities and colleges in California that offer specialized services and aid to past and present military members. Read on to compare the veteran services available at several schools in the Golden State.

California is home to a number of schools that are military-friendly to active military service members and veterans. Here you can find out more about five of the state's military-friendly schools and evaluate the services that are available.

School Comparison

School Name

Institution Type

Location

In-state Tuition (2016-2017)*

Tuition Assistance/Military Benefits

Brandman University

4-year private

Irvine, CA

$12,300

Yellow Ribbon Program

California State University - San Marcos

4-year public

San Marcos, CA

$7,383

Fee Waiver

Fremont College

4-year private

Cerritos, CA

$33,135

Yellow Ribbon Program

MiraCosta College

2-year public

Oceanside, CA

$1,152

Food Assistance, Cal-Vet Tuition Fee Waiver

University of California - Berkeley

4-year public

Berkeley, CA

$13,509

Yellow Ribbon Program, Cal-Vet Tuition Fee Waiver

Source: *National Center for Education Statistics

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California Military-Friendly Schools

California has several military-friendly schools which have various benefits and services available to active military members and veterans. Many of these schools offer tuition fee waivers and the Yellow Ribbon Program, which can help cover the high tuition associated with private universities and/or nonresident status. In addition, most of these universities and colleges offer specialized advising services and the option for completing their education online.

Brandman University

Brandman University offers flexible online and on-campus programs, including six campuses that are located on military bases. This school has faculty available who provide one-on-one support for military members and veterans. Tutoring for writing and math is offered online for free. In addition, they offer career services for active military and veterans to assist with finding a job after graduation. Brandman University offers certificates up to doctorate degrees. It is located in a large city and has about 7,300 students.

California State University - San Marcos

California State University - San Marcos supports veterans and active military with their education and career by offering professional development opportunities in the San Diego area. In addition, they have an Energy System Technology Evaluation Program (ESTEP) that transitions veterans into a paid internship if they major in a STEM field. The university has a veterans center tailored towards past and present military members to assist with their education. Here, students can choose from many different programs that span from bachelor's degrees to doctorates. The university is located in a suburb of a large city and houses over 13,000 students.

Fremont College

Fremont College provides assistance to veterans and active military members with a personalized team of advisors and coursework that can be completed online. This college has various deployment policies to help active military members if they are deployed so they can continue their education. In addition, the faculty at Fremont College offer career assistance including tips on how to be successful in finding a job, resume information, and how to dress for interviews. Fremont College offers various programs, including certificates, associate degrees, and fast-track diplomas. This college has fewer than 300 students and is located in a large suburb.

MiraCosta College

MiraCosta College has a Veterans Education Office and Veterans Information Center that offer information and assistance to veterans and active military service members. They have several resources available to students, including peer advisors and information regarding employment, counseling, and healthcare. Additionally, MiraCosta College has a range of associate's degree level programs. Many of these programs can be completed in hybrid or fully online formats. This college has almost 15,000 student in attendance.

University of California - Berkeley

University of California - Berkeley has a variety of services available to active military members and veterans including advising, counseling, workshops, and transition courses specific to veterans. There are several military student groups at this university including Army, Air Force, and Navy/Marines ROTC groups. This university also offers interactive online courses in addition to on-campus courses. The University of California - Berkeley has bachelor's, master's, and doctorate programs that can be completed in a variety of different majors. The school has over 40,000 students and is located in a mid-sized city.